Hold-in mechanism for magnet valves



Feb. 9, 1932.

R. D. CONKLiN HOLD-IN MECHANISMJOR MAGNET VALVES Filed Nov. 14. 1950INVENTORQI Roscoe 0. Con K Iun.

3v /7)s ATTORNEYS. 4 S

Patented Feb. 9, 1932 warren stares Parser ROSCOE D. CONKLILL F RAHWAY,NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOE TO NATIONAL PNEUMATIC COMPANY, OF Yonnn. Y., ACORPORATION OF WEST VIRGIE' IA HOLD-IN MECHANISM FORIEAGINETVALVESApplication filed. November 14 1930. Serial No. 495,801.

This invention relates in general to means for holding magnet valves andthe like after operation in operated position.

One of the objects of this invention the provision of simple mechanicalmeans not ing upon an operable member to hold it in operated positionafter having been "moved to opera-ted position. 7

A further object of this invention is the provision of electro-magneticmeans for releasing the hold-in mechanism to permit the operated memberto return to normal position.

A further object of this invention is the provision of simple mechanicalmeans for accomplishing these purposes.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of mechanismof this type which will compensate for or talte up any wear that mayoccur on the operating parts.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of mechanismof this type which even as it wears will insure that the operated memberwill remain in fully operated posi- 1 tion after having been moved'toit.

A still further advantage of this construction is the tact that it ispositive in action and is particularly etlicientvihen used in connectionwith operable members which have but a very short distance to move frominoperative to operative position. These and other ob ects, as willappear from the following disclosure are secured by means of thisinvention.

This invention resides substantially in combination. construction,arrangement, and

- relative location of parts, all as will be forth in greater detailbelow.

Referring to the drawin gs Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional viewthrough the device of this invention as applied to aneleotromagnetically opt-rated valve; and

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

At the outset it is desired to emphasize the fact that this invention isin no sense limited in its application to magnet valves since it will beapparent from the following description that it may easily be applied toany member which is moved from inoperativeto operative positionandrwhich it is desired to hold in operative position until released.Broadly, the general purpose of this inven tion is theprovision ofsimpleinechanical means acting upon the operating member of a 'valve,shown as operated by eleotro-inagnetic means but not necessarily limitedthereto, to hold it in operated position as long as desired, andelectro-magnetic means for releasing it when desired. The constructionemployed will be-understood bydetail reference to the drawings. V

The casing of the electro-magnetic valve is shown at 1 within which ismounted the solenoid winding 2. At 3 is a fixed. pole piece of thesolenoid winding through which slidably operates the rod 4, which may bethe valve stem or the member by means of which the valve stem isoperated. In contact with this rod 4; is a movable plunger 5 whichslides centrally of the solenoid winding. Mounted upon casing 1 are theuprights or standards 6 which support a plate 14 and a: second casing 7.Within this casing 7 is another solenoid winding 8 having the fixedcentral pole piece 9 and a movable plunger 10. Secured to the movableplunger 10 and having a sliding central lit with the pole piece 9 is aknockout' pin 11 having an enlarged head 11'. Supported on the top ofcasing 7 is a bracket 12 to which .is adjustably secured the upper endof a spring 18 which has its lower end anchored to the plunger 10.-Depending from the under surface of plate-14 are'two sets of parallelconverging arms 15 which form supports for pins 16 which extend between-them. Pivotally mounted on these pins 16 are two bell crank levers eachcomprising the connected arms 17 and 18. At 19 is a spring anchored toeach arm 18 and tending to draw them towards each other. The free endsof arm 17 lie parallel to each other and directly under the enlargedhead 11" of the knockout pin 11. The relative arrangement of arms '15and the bell crank arms is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

When winding 2 is energized plunger 5 iii) moves down carrying with itthe valve stem I or rod 4:. -This causes the valve or other mechanismoperated by the rod to be moved to its operated position. As soon asplunger 5 begins to move down spring 19 draws arms 18 toward each othereflecting sliding contact of their inner curved cam surfaces over theupper end of plunger 5. Thus for every bit of movement that plunger 5undergoes the arms 18 closely follow it and it is apparent that thisaction will occur even though the contacting surfaces wear. When it isdesired to return the operated member, such as the valve, to normalposition it is only necessary to energize solenoid 8 for a short time.As a result plunger 10 is attracted by pole piece 9 and the knockout pinis thrust downwardly to cause its enlarged head 11 to strike the upperends of arms 17. This causes the arms 18 to move apart, tensioningspring 19, and permitting plunger 5 to move upwardly. It is pointed outthat the valve operated by rod 4: and plunger 5 are urged (with respectto the drawings) upwardly by a spring (not shown) which is alwaystending to operate the movable parts to normal position. Hence as soonas the arms 18 move outwardly to release plunger 5 it springs back tonormal position.

With the above disclosure it will be apparent that this inventionresides in certain principles of operation which may be embodied inother physical forms without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention. 1 do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited to thedisclosure as given for purposes of illustration but rather to the scopeof the appended claims.

What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a hold-in mechanism or" the type described the combinationcomprising a valve stem, electro-magnetic means for moving said valvestem, a pair of pivoted arms, a spr'ug urging said arms towards eachother .11 contact with the end of the valve stem, a knockout pin forengaging said arms to move them apart to release said valve stem, andelectro-magnetic means for moving the knockout pin.

2. A hold-in mechanism for valves comprising in combination a valvestem, electromagnetic means for operating the valve stem in onedirection, a pair of pivotally supported bell crank levers arranged toengage the valve stem, a spring for causing the bell crank levers toengage the valve stem, and electro-magnetically operated meansengageable Vitll the bell crank levers for rotating hem against thetension of said spring to free the valve stem.

3. A hold-in mechanism for valves comprising in combination, a valvestem, electromagnetic means for operating the valve stem in onedirection, a pair of pivotally supported hell crank levers arranged toengage the valve stem, a spring for causing the bell crank levers toengage the valve stem, the ends of the bell crank levers engaging thevalve stem having curved surfaces, a knockout pin for engaging the bellcrank levers, a solenoid having a pole piece, a plunger connected to theknockout pin, and means for holding the knockout pin and plunger innormally retracted position.

l. in a mechanism of the type described, the combination comprising twosolenoid windings in axial alignment, a pole piece for each solenoidwinding, a plunger for each pole piece attractable thereby, a memberoperated by one of the plungers and intended to be held in operatedposition, spring urged pivoted arms for engaging that plunger, and aknockout pin connected to the other plunger and adapted to strike thebell crank levers when its solenoid is energized, said spring urged armsacting to hold the plunger engaged thereby and the member actuatedthereby in operated position.

5. In a mechanism including a valve stem resiliently held in oneposition, the combination comprising electro-magnetic means for movingthe valve stem, pivotally supported bell crank levers and a springcausing them to engage said means to hold it in operated position, aslidable plunger and knockout pin for engaging the bell crank levers tomove them out of engagement with said means, and electro-magnetic meansfor moving said plunger.

6. A mechaism of the type described comprising a movable member,electro-magnetic means for moving the member, a plurality of pivotallysupported arms having cam surfaces which engage the member, a spring forinsuring positive engagement between the arms and the movable member,and electromagnetic means for moving the arms against said spring topermitthe movement of said movable member in one direction, said springinsuring continuous contact between the arms and the movable member inits movement in one direction to compensate for wear.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 6th day ofNovember, A. D.

ROSCOE D. CONKLIN.

